Operational Technology (OT) Practice Lead

At Sword, we help power, secure and transform the organisations that keep the UK running. Supporting customers across Critical National Infrastructure, energy, public sector and enterprise markets, we combine deep industry expertise with leading technology services spanning managed services, cyber security, cloud, data, AI and digital transformation.

Join Sword and you'll be part of a team solving complex challenges, delivering real-world impact and working alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about quality, collaboration and customer success.

About the Role:

As an Operational Technology Practice Lead, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the technical direction, capability and growth of our OT Security practice. Combining leadership, consultancy, technical governance and commercial awareness, you will lead the successful delivery of complex and high-risk projects while supporting business growth through pre-sales engagement and strategic customer consultancy.

You will work closely with customers, project teams, sales stakeholders and fellow practice leaders to ensure Sword continues to deliver high-quality solutions, develop technical excellence and maintain its reputation as a trusted partner. The role also carries responsibility for developing people, building capability and driving the long-term strategy of the practice.

With a particular focus on Operational Technology and Critical National Infrastructure environments, you will provide specialist leadership across OT cyber security assessments, risk management, remediation and technical delivery, helping customers navigate complex operational, regulatory and security requirements.

Due to the nature of the role and the customer environments you will support, the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting, including NPPV3 and Security Check (SC) clearance.

As an Operational Technology (OT) Practice Lead, you will:

• Lead the successful delivery of complex and high-risk OT security projects and consultancy engagements through active involvement across the full solution lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership and governance across OT security engagements, ensuring solutions and recommendations are fit for purpose, maintainable and appropriate for live industrial environments.
• Define, develop and standardise OT security assessment methodologies, remediation frameworks, technical approaches and delivery standards across the practice.
• Lead and oversee complex OT cyber security gap analyses, risk assessments and remediation activities, considering operational continuity alongside cyber security requirements.
• Provide specialist guidance on OT architecture, industrial networking and the design and assessment of secure network topologies.
• Guide customers, particularly those operating within Critical National Infrastructure, in understanding and applying relevant cyber security standards, frameworks and regulatory requirements, including ISA/IEC 62443, the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), NIS Regulations and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
• Conduct technical quality reviews and provide appropriate approval, governance and oversight for assigned projects and customer engagements.
• Develop and execute the strategic direction of the OT practice, strengthening capability, maturity, delivery consistency and subject matter expertise.
• Coach, mentor and support OT security consultants, engineers and wider project teams, helping enhance technical capability and professional development.
• Manage line management responsibilities for assigned team members, supporting career growth, development planning and high performance.
• Act as a senior technical escalation point, providing leadership and specialist guidance where required.
• Work collaboratively with Sales and Business Development teams to support bids, proposals and growth opportunities.
• Contribute to pre-sales activity, helping shape technically achievable, high-quality OT security solutions and customer proposals.
• Engage directly with customers to understand their operational and security requirements, discuss technical approaches and provide trusted consultancy advice.
• Translate complex OT cyber risks into meaningful business and operational terms, including potential safety, environmental, production and regulatory impacts.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to support planning, estimation, resourcing and successful delivery.
• Promote technical excellence, best practice, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the OT practice.
• Support the ongoing growth, reputation and commercial success of Sword's OT security capability through quality delivery, technical leadership and trusted customer relationships.

Requirements

• Significant experience securing Operational Technology (OT), Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and industrial environments, gained across multiple technologies, vendor platforms and live operational sites.
• Proven experience leading the delivery of complex OT cyber security projects, assessments and consultancy engagements, providing technical leadership and governance throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of OT architecture, industrial networking, network segmentation and the security considerations associated with maintaining safe and reliable operational environments.
• Applied expertise in ISA/IEC 62443, alongside a strong understanding of recognised cyber security standards and frameworks relevant to OT environments.
• Experience leading OT cyber risk assessments, security monitoring and/or incident response within production or operational environments.
• Strong understanding of the UK regulatory landscape affecting Critical National Infrastructure, including NIS Regulations and the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).
• Ability to translate complex technical and cyber risks into operational, safety, environmental, production and regulatory impacts for customers and senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical specialists, with the ability to build capability and promote technical excellence across a practice.
• Strong customer and stakeholder management skills, with experience providing trusted technical consultancy and influencing technical direction and decision-making.
• Experience supporting pre-sales activities, technical proposals and customer engagements, with an understanding of how technical delivery contributes to business growth.
• Strong planning, communication and delivery skills, with the strategic thinking and commercial awareness required to develop a successful technical practice.

Desirable Requirements:

• GICSP and/or relevant ISA/IEC 62443 certification.
• Experience working within Critical National Infrastructure, energy, utilities or similarly regulated industrial environments.
• Experience working within consultancy, managed services or customer-focused technical delivery environments.
• Experience defining OT security standards, assessment methodologies, technical frameworks or practice governance models.
• Additional professional certifications relevant to cyber security, architecture, service management, project delivery or technical leadership.

Benefits

At Sword, our core values and culture are based on caring about our people, investing in training and career development, and building inclusive teams where we are all encouraged to contribute to achieve success. We offer comprehensive benefits designed to support your professional development and enhance your overall quality of life.

In addition to a Competitive Salary, here's what you can expect as part of our benefits package:

• Personalised Career Development: We create a development plan customised to your goals and aspirations, with a range of learning and development opportunities within a culture that encourages growth.

• Flexible Working: Flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance. We are keen to discuss individual preferences and explore arrangements that work for both you and the business.

• A Fantastic Benefits Package: This includes generous annual leave allowance, enhanced family-friendly benefits, pension scheme, access to private health, wellbeing and insurance schemes.

Equal Opportunities

At Sword we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, ensuring that all applicants receive fair and equal consideration for employment. If you don't meet every requirement but believe you have relevant transferable skills and experience, we encourage you to apply. We value diversity in